Direction-indicator



N. C. BRIGGS.

DIRECTION INDICATOR. APPLICATION FILED FEB.2I| 19:9.

1. e329,? 51 Patented. Feb. 3, 19m,

NATHANIEL C. BRIGGS. OF LOS ANGELES; CALIFORNIA.

DIRECTION-INDICATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

:latented Feb. 3, 1920.

Application filed February 21. 1919. Serial No. 279.919.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NATHANIEL C. Blue-cs,

a citizen of the United States, and a resident direction to the vehicle equipped with my device.

A further object is to provide a form of device comprising a housing capable of indicating a right or left turn, a back-up or a stop, together with a display of the vehicle license number thereon the interior of said housing being illuminated and the exposed side of the housing being provided with a transparent element subdivided into a plurality of sections upon each of which may be formed or printed different directions and the number of the license; also a' tail light may be provided in the housing, in lieu of the usual separate lamp. Other objects may appear as the description progresses.

I attain the above objects by means 01 the device illustrated in the accompanying drawin forming a part of this application, in w ich:

Figure 1 is a front view of my improved indicator.

Fig. 2 is a rear view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the indicator shown-in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side elevation of the front portion of an automobile and Fig. 5 is an elevation of the rear portion thereof showing my indicators mounted for use.

In the consideration of the present invention, reference is had to my pending application for patent for improvements in direction indicators, filed June 17, 1918, Serial Number 2 10,5350, in which is disclosed another form of indicator and the operating mechanism of which may be applied to a vehicle for operating the device to be herein described.

In the present invention, I provide a single housing 1 for displaying the traflic directions, the license number and the danger, or usual tail light said housing being preferably of a fan-like form with a semirectangular bottom. all of one side of which is covered by a single piece or sheet of glass or other suitable transparent material. with the exception of the tail light.

The housing 1 is preferably of cast metal and has a rear wall 2 and recessed front edges 3 against which a glass 1- may be held by means of a suitable retaining member 5 and a plurality of screws 0. the member 5 being of the form of the housing and skeleton like with a curveduenterior portion 7 connected by means Ofarms'S with a horizontal arm 9. .1 bottonrarni10 is connected with the ends of the curved outer portion bymeans of the side arms 11, thus providing a plurality of subdivisions, as at (1., Inc, J and (a in the front of the housing. The tail lightlens 12 may be suitably held in an opening 13 at one end of the housing in line with the opening 0, as shown.

Each of the openings, (4, Z), c and (Z between the arms of the retaining member 5 has the form of a sector and that portion of the glass 1 within each of said openings may be provided with printed or painted words, such as Back, Right, Left, and Stop, in the order" named from left to right, orvice versa, depending upon the character of the operating connections from the drivers seat. A license number, as shown, may be painted upon the glass within the opening below the diametral arm 9.

An indicator, or pointer 14.- is pivoted at the center of the curved periphery of the housing 1 on a transverse shaft 15 which-has a bearing in a boss 16 formed on the rear wall 2 and the outer end of which shaft carries a pinion 17. 'A sector 18 is pivotally mounted on the rearwall 2 of the housing and meshes with the pinion 17 and is adapted to be operated from the drivers seat of the vehicle by means of a suitable operating mechanism of the character shown in my former application for patent and hereinbefore referred to. The pitch line of the .sector 18 is substantially greater in diameter than that of the pinion 17 so that a minimum movement of said sector will effect a maximum movement of the pinion and indicator 14.

One of the indicators is adapted to be mounted at the front end of the vehicle, as

' direction,

shown in Fig. l, alug being provided on the top of housing 1 through which the usual lamp; support rod 19 may be extended for supporting the indicator midway of the lan'ips, or the housing may be otherwlse suitably held in position on the front end of the vehicle. has shown, the housing 1 is attached to the rear end of the vehicle on the tender in lieu of the usual tail light by means of a suitable bracket 20 of any 'de sired 'form. v

It is preferable that both of the indicators should be connected with a common operating means so'that the front and rear indica-tors will ope ate in unison for displaying like signs, the pointer ll, for instance, being moved to the left serving to indicate on both indicators a turn in one or the other and when moved to the right a turn in an opposite direction will be indicated. Likewise a further movement of the pointer to a greater extent than for a turn in either direction, will indicate an intention to back up or stop.

One or more lamps, as at 21, may be provided for illuminating the interior of the housing, said lamp being held in a socket 22 suitably attached to the rear Wall 2 of the housing andbeing carried for connection, by means of a lamp cord 23, with the electrical system of the automobile.

to the interior of the Access may be had housing by removing the front retaining member 5 and glass l, or by means of the hinged bottom 24: which is pivoted to the rear wall 2 by means of pins 25 extending through the lugs 26 formed thereon.

hat I claim is: Y A direction indicator comprising a housing having a rectangular base portion and a marked on said transparent element within said sector openings, the license number being marked on said transparent element within said rectangular opening, and a danger lens being held in said circular opening, a shaft transversely extended through said housing and said skeleton cover, a pointer adjacent to said cover and movable thereover, gearing, on the rear side of said -housingfor operating said pointer, a lamp supported within and for illuminating said housing. v I

NATHANIEL C. BRIGGS. In the presence o f- LUTHER L. MACK, H. M; BRUNDAGE. 

